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Kimberly Sherell Johnson

Brenda E. Armstrong, M. D. Distinguished Professor
Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care
Duke Box 3003, Durham, NC 27710
3502 Hosp South, Durham, NC 27710

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Brenda E. Armstrong, M. D. Distinguished Professor · 2024 - Present Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Medicine
Professor of Medicine · 2020 - Present Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Medicine
Senior Fellow in the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development · 2002 - Present Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Institutes and Centers
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2017 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published March 19, 2024
Duke Awards 32 New Distinguished Professorships for 2024
Published January 13, 2020
Better Health Starts With Stronger Communities
Published January 8, 2018
New Duke Research Center Will Address Disparities in Clinical Care

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Recent Publications


Exploring Racial Differences in Family Expressions of Emotion and Clinician Empathy in ICU Family Meetings

Conference Chest Critical Care · December 1, 2025 Background: Critical care guidelines recommend that clinicians provide emotional support to families of critically ill patients during family meetings. Little is known about how family member race impacts how emotions are expressed and supported in meeting ... Full text Cite

Perceived Value of Transfusion Access and Hospice Services Among Patients With Blood Cancers.

Journal Article JAMA Netw Open · November 3, 2025 IMPORTANCE: Although patients with blood cancers have the lowest rates of hospice use in oncology, there are sparse data regarding their perceptions of the services that hospice can provide. Lack of transfusion access in hospice has been posited as a key b ... Full text Link to item Cite

Prevalence and Impact of Traumatic Life Events among Black and White Family Members of Intensive Care Unit Patients.

Conference Ann Am Thorac Soc · November 2025 Rationale: Lifetime trauma is common and may affect interactions with the healthcare system. Objectives: To measure the prevalence of lifetime trauma and its association with family-clinician interpersonal outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


1/3 CTSA UM1 at Duke University

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2032

2/3 CTSA K12 Program at Duke University

ResearchAssociate Director · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

Improving needs among older adults: the ICUconnect 2 primary palliative care RCT

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2024 - 2029

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Education, Training & Certifications


Johns Hopkins University · 1997 M.D.